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TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun

Dec 29, 2004

, Last Updated: 8:51 AM ET

Bob Clarke loves watching what Jeff Carter and Michael Richards are doing in the red and white because he can picture them doing it in black and orange. Clarke, the Philadelphia Flyers general manager, has a group of prospects playing at the 2005 world junior championship, but the Canadian pair of Carter and Richards is at the top of the class.

Clarke said both probably would have signed contracts and began the season in the City of Brotherly Love had the NHL lockout not unfolded.

"Carter and Richards are going to be good NHL players, with the chance of being great," said Clarke, who is attending the world junior here in Grand Forks, N.D. "I think you have to judge them on how they are doing against their own age groups. You have to think they will do well in the NHL because they are going to play against three-quarters or half of these guys.

"I think both would have started with us and if they were capable, we would have kept them."

Instead, Carter returned to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Richards went back to the Kitchener Rangers, and both have been integral parts for Canada at this tournament.

The 2003 entry draft has become a potential gold mine for the Flyers.

Carter was selected 11th and Richards 24th. Other Philadelphia choices who are world junior participants include Slovak forward Stefan Ruzicka (81st), Swiss forward Kevin Romy (108th) and Canadian goalie Rejean Beauchemin (191st). Canada forward Colin Fraser also was taken in 2003 by Clarke but was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.